partially intoxicated

"And Nadab and Aihu, the sons  of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not." Leviticus 10:1

"Nadab and Abihu would never have committed that fatal sin had they not first become partially intoxicated by the free use of wine. They understood that the most careful and solemn preparation was necessary before presenting themselves in the sanctuary, where the Divine Presence was manifested; but by intemperance they were disqualified for their holy office. Their minds became confused and their moral perceptions dulled so that they could not discern the difference between the sacred and the common.

To Aaron and his surviving sons was given the warning: "Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou nor they sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken" (Lev. 10:9, 10)...All who occupied positions of sacred responsibility were to be men of strict temperance, that their minds might be clear to discriminate between right and wrong, that they might possess firmness of principle, and wisdom to administer justice and to show mercy." Patriarchs & Prophets 362

"Anything in eating and drinking which disqualifies the mental powers for healthful and active exercise is an aggravating sin in the sight of God. Especially is this the case with those who minister in holy things, who should at all times be examples to the people and be in a condition to properly instruct them." Confrontation 83

Intoxication is the state of being drunk. Total or partial intoxication interferes with memory, thinking, speech and coordination. The moral perceptions become dull and one then become incapable of discerning between right and wrong and spiritually speaking, the sacred and common. ​Intoxication or partial intoxication can result from the use of mild or excessive wine, sugar, milk and sugar combined, sex, lack of rest, overeating or over-excitement of the senses through electronics, novel reading and other means. Whatever the cause, it disqualifies the consumer from teaching and being used as an instrument in the hands of God. Unfortunately, there are many in the church who freely use and excuse their use of alcohol, not realizing the spiritual and salvific ramifications of their actions. The Bible says in Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: an whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." This is why there were several warnings given to refrain from its use. 

Wine and Sexual Intemperance
King Solomon (King Lemuel) was taught a prophecy by his mother, which after a time he did not heed. Notice how she started off her prophecy to her son. "Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 4) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 5) Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted." Proverbs 31:3-5.

Alcohol is not the only cause of intoxication, as we can see in the case of King Solomon, his love for women and his sexual intemperance caused him to lose his discernment. Just as Nadab and Abihu took and offered STRANGE FIRE before the Lord, King Solomon loved many STRANGE WOMEN. "But King Solomon loved many strange women...2) For surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 4) For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away is heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 6) And Solomon did evil in the sight of  the LORD..." 1 Kings 11:1, 2, 4, 6.

Proverbs 7:26 says of strange women, "For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her." Samson was one of those strong men who lost all of his strength, and was bound, and died as a result of his love of Delilah.

Over-excitement of the Senses
"That mind is ruined which is allowed to be absorbed in story-reading. [YouTube, Facebook, etc.] The imagination becomes diseased, sentimentalism takes possession of the mind, and there is a vague unrest, a strange appetite for unwholesome mental food, which is constantly unbalancing the mind. Thousands are today in the insane asylum whose minds became unbalanced by novel reading, [and social media addiction] which results in air-castle building and love-sick sentimentalism." Messages to Young People 290

Dietary Factors
In Luke chapter 1 we have been given a most wonderful account of the counsel given to the parents of John the Baptist. The angel Gabriel instructed Zechariah concerning his diet. "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb." Luke 1:15

We have been called to do a work like John the Baptist...

​"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31